As technology continues to reshape the art world, many of today’s graphic artists are merging traditional processes like screen printing with modern tools such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Flatstock, South By Southwest’s art exhibition featuring some of the world’s most influential gig poster artists, puts this evolution on full display by presenting limited edition handmade posters that blend analog technique with digital precision. 

Since its establishment in the early 2000s, Flatstock has become a hub for artists wanting to gain experience in visual design. It was founded by the American Poster Institute nonprofit organization, which was formed in 2002 to support the poster-making community and promote the art form as a legitimate, collectible medium.

For Christian Alarcón, an artist who designs gig posters under the name Chris.is.in.crisis, digital tools like Adobe Illustrator and drawing pads make the creation process much easier. He explained that working digitally is both practical and empowering, allowing him to more easily transpose his ideas into his artwork.

“I don’t know how to use a tablet, so everything you see here is done with a mousepad,” Alarcón said. “And usually in Illustrator, I use vectors, which makes it easier to create the images.”

Using a blend of traditional and digital techniques, Alarcón begins his process with pencil and paper sketches before scanning them into Illustrator, where he then redraws the image using a mousepad. According to Alarcón, this technique allows for more precision and control, simplifying the poster-making process.

“I make a lot of mistakes,” Alarcón said. “Digital tools make it easy to go back.”

Though he typically sticks to using Illustrator and Photoshop, Alarcón elaborated on the impacts that additional online resources have on the art industry. He recognized that these tools make it easier for others to get into art and evolve their craft. This allows for more artists to fight artificial intelligence (AI), which has become more prominent across the internet.

“It’s also a way to fight all the tools that are coming with AI,” Alarcón said. “I’m not very good at drawing with a pencil, so it’s great for me to be able to use digital resources.”

Flynn Prejean, a poster artist at BadMoon Studios, has utilized digital software in a different way. He explained that he prefers to draw his work on a tablet instead of using a mouse.

“Most everything is hand-drawn,” Prejean said. “It saves a step because I don’t have to scan it and clean the art up.”

For Prejean, the appeal of technology lies in the efficiency of the process. Despite this, he still insists on preserving the tangible elements of his work, so he often utilizes paper in his creations.

“I like that tactile sensation of pen to paper,” Prejean said. “It brings back the memories of doing it when you were a child.”

Prejean is open to exploring new technologies in his art, as long as they fit into his process of creation. However, he emphasized that he draws the line at AI-generated art.

“A lot of digital tools are essentially time savers, which is great if you’re working as a freelance artist,” Prejean said. “It has an impact. In my opinion, a good impact. If you’re talking about AI, I’m not a fan of that.” 

Max Wesoloski, who works under the pen name Max Weso, explained how his art process uses a blend of screen printing and digital coloring. He discussed how his process starts with pen and ink line work on paper before moving onto Photoshop for color and texture.

“Paper tends to restrict you a little bit, and you can be a bit more concise with digital,” Wesoloski said. “You can let it flow and see what happens.”

Wesolosky sees using digital tools as a helpful creative aid, giving people new ways to create art. But, like other artists at Flatstock, he sees a clear difference between using these tools and relying on machines to create an entire artwork.

“With the AI stuff coming around and almost allowing people to, in a way, cheat, AI work doesn’t look as pure,” Wesoloski said. “There are a lot of little flaws, and it’s scary because it just keeps getting better and better to a point where someone with no artistic capabilities can type in a couple of things and have this perfect, beautiful work of art. There’s no creativity in that.”